The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-04-23

more than one Southern State is
found a class of people known as
"Moonshiners," who distill whisky
without tax or license. These peo-
pie are generally found in very re-
tired places, especially where the
soil is too sterile to make agricul-
ture profitable. Between.them and
the Revenue Department is open
war. He is bold officer who ven
lures into the mountains of Geor-
gia on "raid," and unless sup
ported by a strong posse, oftener
than otherwise will never return.
A traveller in this section soon
learns to know when he is in the
vicinity of "moonshine" by the
suspicious glances of those whom
he meets in the road and the re-
luctance with which any informa-
ton is given.
1t so happened last summer that
a Photographic party was in camp
upon the summit of Mount Star
ling, which stands in the worst
moonshine district in North Caro-
DINA. Knowing the character of
the people, it was with serious APP
prehensiOns that we entered the
county, but we hoped by doing our
work speedily and explaining our
Grand to avoid trouble. After
pitching camp upon the summit of
the mountain it was found neces-
sary to clear the timber from the
peak in order that our instruments
might have a full sweep around the
horizon. Emert, the teamster, was
sent down into a "cove" upon the
side of a mountain to hire axmen,
but after being absent all day, re-
turned without laborer.
A SUSPICIOUS PEOPLE.
kept the TRAIL" he said, "down
Big creek for several miles, stopping
ut every cabin, but not man was
to be found. There were a number
Of women and children, and | no.
ticed these seemed very much
frightened when l approached the
cabins. The women would 60 in
side and fasten the door, then talk
with me through hole in the logs,
while the children would peep anx-
iously from their hiding places be-
hind the chimney and the chicken
coops. When asked for the men
they declared no men lived in that
valley and never had, and from the
way they stared at me it was not
hard to believe. At length neared a
cabin where two men were working.
They were standing upon a scaffold
mailing shingles upon the roof. But
no sooner was | seen approaching
than one of them leaped to the
ground, and, Selling his rifle, which
stood near by, plunged into the
forest and disappeared. Ridingup,
l hailed the old man, who remained,
and, after telling him that we were
surveyors and wanted axmen for
work on the mountain, / asked
where all the valley men were and
why his partner had left so hastily
at the sight of me. The old man
slowly clambered down from the
scaffold and hobbled out to the
fence where / was waiting.
"What mout be yo' name,
stranger?' he asked, after cycling
me suspiciously for some mo-
ments. Wall, whar did We come
from, an whar air We GWEN ter,
an what be we a-doin' hereabouts,
anyhow he continued when his
first question was answered.
"His curiosity at length ap-
peased, and, having satisfied him
self that l was not an officer, he
told me that the valley was expect
ing raid" and all the men were
lying out on the mountain during
the daytime. His son had run
away because he thought from my
leather leggins and pistol-belt that
l was a revenue officer. / began to
feel uncomfortable, and, as night
was near, turned back toward
camp, after assuring the old man
once more that we were not 'reve-
puers.'
Although Emert had been I'M
successful, another man who went
into the adjacent cove returned with
two laborers.
A RAIDING PARTY.
We retired to our tents early in
the evening and had been sleeping
several hours when we were
awakened by voices and the tramp
of horses. Upon going out party
Of revenue officers was discovered
who had assembled the mountain in
order to make a sudden and unex-
pected descentupon BigOreek valley
that night. They had been travelling
rapidly since noon, and the horses
were exhausted with the arduous
climb. Hay for their hungry stock
was desired, and permission to
leave them in our camp while they
went down to raid the cove. To
become associated in any way with
revenue officers was very undesira-
bic while working in this section of